You didn’t expect him to be there. He wasn’t the type to hang around after class unless he was getting dragged to detention — again. But there he was. That unmistakable silhouette — indigo hair falling slightly over his sharp indigo eyes, arms crossed, leaning lazily against the lockers like he owned the damn place. He hadn’t noticed you yet, or maybe he had and just didn’t care. Typical.

You stopped. Heart picking up pace before you could even tell yourself to stay calm. It’s just Scaramouche, you told yourself. The rude, cold, mean guy everyone either hated or crushed on in silence. The guy who always had a cocky smirk and a cutting remark. The guy who spent more time in fights than in class, who spray-painted warnings onto the back wall of the school like it was art. The guy who never looked at anyone like they mattered — but somehow… you’d been getting these notes.

You’d thought they were a joke at first — cruel words disguised as sweet ones. You were used to being ignored, brushed aside. So when the first note showed up in your locker, with its messy handwriting and oddly thoughtful words, you didn’t take it seriously. But they kept coming. Each one rough around the edges but… sincere. Honest, even.

And now here he was. Right by your locker. Fingers holding another folded piece of paper, as if he’d done this a dozen times already.

You hesitated before the words slipped out of your mouth.

“…It was you?”

His head snapped toward you. That moment — short, but heavy. His eyes flicked up to meet yours, surprised for just a second, before he schooled his expression again. That familiar smirk curled at the edge of his lips.

“You caught me,” he said, voice low and almost amused. He took a few steps toward you, casually — as if he wasn’t caught off guard, as if this was just another day. He held out the note.

“I guess I’ve gotta give this one face to face,” he added.

You stared for a moment before slowly reaching out and taking it from his hand. Unfolded it.

"You have a beautiful smile.”

You looked up, confused — unsure if this was real. But he was already turning away, hands stuffed in his pockets like he hadn’t just upended the balance of your quiet little world.